Mrs. Hudson | BBC Sherlock | Sherlockology Just to make things absolutely clear, Mrs. Hudson is in fact the landlady of 221 Baker Street, not the housekeeper! Have you got that? The landlady,NOTthe housekeeper, so don't be expecting her to make a cup of tea for you… although she'll probably be putting the kettle on in a minute anyway… fancy a biscuit too? A widow after her husband got himself sentenced to death in Florida, Mrs. Hudson now rents out the other two flats in her building. Currently 221B is occupied by Sherlock Holmes, who was able to help her out by ensuring her husband got the death penalty, and Dr. John Watson. The flat does have a second bedroom, not that Mrs. Hudson suspects they'll be needing two bedrooms, but they're quite broad-minded in Baker Street, after all Mrs. Turner next door's got married ones. The basement flat 221C is still available should anyone be looking for a nice little place in central London.

A prime spot, the location is quiet, calm, peaceful, apart from the occupants in 221B having a little domestic, and the sound of occasional gunfire (again coming from 221B), oh and also that time there was a massive explosion opposite! Oh no, it wasn't a bomb, gas explosion apparently. Anyway, please contact the landlady (not housekeeper) Mrs. Hudson at 221A if you are interested in the possibility of renting this flat, anyone may apply, she's got all sorts around here. Friends Mrs. Hudson (not just an housekeeper!) - TheNorwoodBuilder TheNorwoodBuilder [Answer to this post ] Yesss… Mrs. Hudson! I so LOVE her! Well, let’s start by summarizing what we know about canonical Mrs. Hudson (but with intermingled occasional references to her modern counterpart, also).

[If you haven’t realized it, yet, I must tell you that I suffer from a sort of encyclopaedic complex… and this kind of topics tend to increase it… so I’ll proceed by points: this way, you may at least skip sub-topics you’re not interested in…] 1) First name: unknown (and this, I’m afraid, gives us a clear idea of how much minor her character actually was in ACD’s original stories…). Never once Holmes or Watson call her by her first name, and even if some holmesian scholars have decided that she was called Martha because this is the name of the housekeeper Holmes planted in Von Bork’s house in LAST, this theory doesn’t persuade me. The fact is, etiquette was quite rigid between the end of XIX and the beginning of XX Century: a gentleman would never call a woman who was not a very close relative or friend by her first name, unless she was a servant. Between servants and masters, the custom was that the master called the servants by their christian names, while the servants called their master with his proper title (in the case of Holmes, “Mr. Holmes”).

The exception were housekeepers and cooks, mainly in LARGE estates, who were usually given the title of “Mrs.” - being them married or not. Now, through all the Canon Holmes always calls his landlady “Mrs. Hudson” - and this is the reason why we don’t know her name - and Mrs. Hudson, as far as we know, always calls Holmes “Mr. Holmes”. They were landlady and lodger, Mrs. Hudson was (actually!) not a housekeeper, and even less a servant, they were not friends or relatives, and thus this was the proper way to address each other. Instead, in LAST, Holmes calls the woman he had planted as his agent in Von Bork’s household “Martha”, i.e., by her first name, while she calls him “Mr. Holmes”, thus indicating a superior-inferior relationship: NOT the kind of relationship Holmes and Mrs. Hudson had when he lived in Baker Street, and certainly not a kind of relationship they could have after Holmes’ retirement. Thus, the Martha of LAST is quite evidently a person who, differently from Mrs. Hudson, even before going to work for Von Bork, had been in service.

In BBC Sherlock we are not given her first name, either, but in the pilot (if I recollect correctly: I’ve lent my copy of the DVD…) she apparently is named “Martha Hudson” in the sign over the sandwich shop at the ground floor of 221b. 2) Marital status: properly speaking, we should say “unknown”, again. It’s true that no “Mr. Hudson” is ever mentioned in the Canon, and that she rents lodgings in her home, thus presumably meaning she needs some addition to her income, but this is not, per se, conclusive proof (just circumstantial evidence: and we all know what Holmes thought of circumstantial evidence…): even married women used to rent lodgings (in REDC, for instance, Mrs.

Warren had a very alive husband…) and, given Holmes’ and Watson’s parsimony with personal details (after all, both of them only let know to the other they had - or had had - a sibling after several years of acquaintance…), it wouldn’t be strange if neither of them ever felt the need to mention a man with whom, after all, they had no reason to interact, as all their interactions, as lodgers, would have occurred with the lady of the house, as it was customary in that age. The strongest hint which suggests that Mrs. Hudson was, in fact, a widow, is provided by Holmes’ extremely irregular habits. Had a Mr. Hudson resided in the house during the years of Holmes’ stay, I seriously doubt he would have tolerated such a troublesome lodger as Holmes was, not even for the “princely rent” he paid. Instead, each time Watson speaks about Holmes’ peculiar habits and guests, it’s always and only to Mrs. Hudson’s patience he refers to (see in particular DYIN): as she was, apparently, the one and only entitled to decide to keep such a peculiar lodger, it’s highly probable that she was a free woman.

Of course, the title of “Mrs. Hudson” could not only suggest a widow, but also - and instead - a woman who, albeit married, was just separated (which was possible de facto, even if it had no legal value, at the time). This has originated a good lot of speculation amongst canonical scholars, who have related her by marriage (or sometimes by blood relation), over the time, with one or the other of the several “Hudsons” who appear in the Canon (first of all, the Hudson of GLOR). These are all fun theories but, to me, nothing more than this, as I see as quite unlikely such a Plautus-like - or Dickens-like - occurrence in real life (sic!!!). Anyway, my favourite hypothesis is that she was a widow, and not a very old one (differently from what we are generally shown in the majority of the adaptations), as she was able to stand such a trying lodger as Holmes was, from 1881 to 1904: I’d dare say she was no more than ten years older than Holmes, more or less. Of course, there is also the little mystery of Holmes apparently calling her “Mrs.

Turner” in SCAN: ??? The fact has elicited so much speculation amongst holmesian scholars, that the authors of BBC Sherlock even joked about it by introducing a Mrs. Turner in the show, a neighbour and friend of modern Mrs. Hudson. But if we carefully read the canonical passage, we could find a plausible explanation for this apparent inconsistency: So… given the wording of the sentences, we could also say that there are two persons involved in this meal: a Mrs. Turner who brings the tray, and a Mrs. Hudson, the landlady, who, as such, in a sense “provides” the meal, as is she the one charged with running the household, thus deciding the menus and giving instruction to the servants, including the cook - a cook who might as well be a “Mrs. Turner”… As for our modern Mrs. Hudson, instead, we are CLEARLY told that she is a widow and that her husband was sentenced to death in Florida, with the help of Sherlock himself. Also, in The Casebook we are told that the insurance payout she received after Mr.

Hudson’s death was enough to sustain her - with the addition of the rent paid by her lodgers - for the rest of her life. As I’ve already wildly speculated elsewhere about the circumstances of her marriage and of her widowhood as well, I can’t but refer you to that post for my ramblings about this specific topic . 3) Appearance: About her age I’ve already given you my opinion. About her look, we are given no reference altogether in the Canon. The only description we get of her, is that her tread was “stately” (STUD), and nothing more. Modern BBC Mrs. Hudson follows the common idea of Mrs. Hudson as an old lady, even if I personally appreciate very much the choice of Una Stubbs, as she conveys an impression of indomitable vitality which gives new life to the character. 4) Origin: Many canonical scholars have concluded that Mrs. Hudson must be Scottish by birth from a passage of NAVA: Now, the quote is not really so unequivocal: in fact, Holmes, here, might be meaning BOTH that Mrs. Hudson, as any other Scotchwoman like her, has a very good idea of breakfast, AND (to the contrary) that Mrs.

Hudson, even if she is not a Scotchwoman, has such a good idea of breakfast as a Scottish landlady would have… Given that her accent is never described by Watson, and that “Hudson” was presumably the family name of her husband, we have no final evidence in one sense or the other. Personally, however, I like the idea of her being Scottish - mostly because Doyle was born in Scotland and a little Scottishness in Baker Street would be nice. As for our modern Mrs. Hudson, I’m afraid we must forget any possibility of her being Scottish: she shows no such an accent, and I think that this might be considered conclusive. By the way, she doesn’t displays an American accent, either, so her stay in the USA with her husband must have been a quite short one, I’d presume. 5) Social and economic position: Again, we are not given many information, in the Canon, and yet we can infer something more from Mrs. Hudson’s household, about which we know a little. We know that she owned a house in Baker Street: not the most fashionable part of London, it’s true, but a very respectable middle-class neighbourhood, at the time.

Her house must have consisted of at least a basement - where the kitchen and other service rooms, such as pantry, laundry room, and sometimes lodgings for the resident servants, were usually situated, at the time - a ground floor with a small entrance and, presumably, Mrs. Hudson’s own sitting room and dining room, a first floor where Holmes’ and Watson’s sitting room and Holmes’ bedroom were situated, and a second floor where there were, presumably, both Watson’s bedroom and Mrs. Hudson’s one. Plus, possibly, a further floor and/or, VERY possibly, an attic. We also know (from THOR) that the house also had a backyard large enough to contain a solitary plane tree . Also, Mrs.

Hudson had some staff in service in the house: while Billy the pageboy (or, better, the various Billys who presumably were employed in that role over the years) could have been paid directly by Holmes, as he mainly ran his errands, in the house there was certainly a cook, who, too, changed over the years (THOR), and who presumably didn’t reside in the house, and quite certainly also at least one scullery maid (this one, more likely, living on the premises, as this was the custom of the time) for the daily housework. Thus, if Mrs. Hudson couldn’t be considered “rich” - she had, after all, to take in lodgers, to make up her income - she was nonetheless well-to-do enough: she can be considered quite certainly a member of that large enough and utterly “respectable” middle class who was the backbone of the whole Victorian social, political (only people over a certain income had the right to vote, at the time - male people, of course…) and moral system. As for BBC Mrs.

Hudson, we are not given so many elements… We know that she owns 221 Baker Street, too, and that this house, too, has at least three storeys plus a basement (and possibly an attic), but we don’t know if she already possessed it before marriage, or instead she inherited it after her husband’s demise, or even if she bought it with part of the insurance money she earned after his execution. She does (part of) the cooking and all (or most of) the housework herself, but this is not strange considering that today domestic staff is much more costly than in Victorian Era and, as she apparently doesn’t work, or doesn’t work any more, it’s only natural that she prefers to spare the money that would be needed to pay a person to perform these tasks in her place. She, too, feels the need to accomodate lodgers to make up her income, even if she is able to ask Sherlock for a rent much lower than the standards of the market just out of gratitude.

She has a love for fancy dresses and for crap telly, and apparently she has some issue with scratchcards (tHoB) - so maybe sometimes she spends a little too much of her income for them (possibly the writers have decided to transfer the canonical hints at Watson’s gambling issues over modern Mrs. Hudson…). I really can’t place her accent - I’m not native English-speaking - but she seems well educated enough. She appears a very active person, and my bet is that she has worked out of home, at some point during her life, even if she is now in retirement, and she possibly ceased to work even before reaching the age for retirement. 7) Relationship with Sherlock Holmes: I think that the best (and most famous - maybe because it’s the only…) description of canonical Mrs. Hudson’s attitude towards Sherlock Holmes is provided in DYIN: Further proof of her true affection for her “remarkable lodger” can be found in another passage of the same story: By the way, had I been Mrs.

Hudson, I would have hit Holmes very hard with a brush on his maggoty head, once discovered that he was pretending all the time, and that he had just put me through such a misery just to pursue one of his cases… But Mrs. Hudson was, indeed, a long-suffering woman, and apparently she, like Watson, couldn’t help but forgive to Holmes even his most outrageous deceptions: some years later ( this, however, is my take at the chronology of these events ), just like Watson, she will also gladly forgive him for having faked his own death and having thrown her “into violent hysterics” (EMPT) with his sudden reappearance amongst the living ones: This short exchange shows how Mrs.

Hudson was not only a very patient woman - and truly affectionate to her pest of a lodger - but a very brave one, too, because she not only tolerated that her house was regularly invaded by all sort of suspicious - and worrisome - figures, but also, in this case, accepted to take a not inconsiderable risk to her personal safety by helping Holmes with the maneuvering of a bust which was the intended target for a murderous sniper… And this, I’d dare say, it’s the point worth spending some more words about our modern BBC Mrs. Hudson! Is her any different in character from her canonical counterpart? Are there significant differences in her relationship with modern Sherlock? Well, of course we see her much more, in this adaptation: she is no more, properly speaking, a minor character - at least not as much minor as her canonical counterpart - and instead she is much more a complementary figure, one who has a clear personality of her own as well as the task to throw light into Sherlock’s own personality, and even, on occasion, to make the plot progress - particularly in tRF, as she is one of the “three friends” to save whom Sherlock fakes his death.

We get to know something more about her biography (see above), as well as about her tastes (in dresses, in TV programs, in MEN…) and, most of all, about her personality. She certainly is at least as patient and as brave as her canonical counterpart and, truth be told, she has, in ASiB, a much more clear opportunity to fully display her courage ( as I’ve already had occasion to observe ), and also her ingenuity: under her appearance of being a sweet, kind, chatty and a little frivolous adorable old lady (which she actually IS, also), she has an iron will, a good intuition, and a considerable amount of shrewdness and cold blood, when needed, as she clearly displays in confronting the CIA men in ASiB. All qualities which, together with the resilience she also displays in that episode, must have helped her very much in dealing with that not-so-nice figure that her husband must have been… Of course, like her canonical counterpart, our Mrs. Hudson is very fond of Sherlock, but, differently from her, I wouldn’t say she “stands in the deepest awe of him”.

Actually, if there is a big difference between these two versions of the character, I’d say it’s in the way she interacts with both Sherlock and John, and in the nature of her relationship with her most famous lodger. As the customs of the Victorian Era prescribed, Mrs. Hudson’s interaction with her lodgers were always quite formal, even if I’m quite sure that, with the passing of time and the long acquaintance, both her lodgers developed a true affection for her, and she for them - and particulaly for Holmes, who was for long periods her only tenant. But such an affection was much more implied than shown, as it was (again) normal for the times, and only in exceptional circumstances it showed at the surface (like in DYIN, for instance). In accordance with our more free society, of course, modern Mrs. Hudson is much more open about her maternal affection for her “boys”, and, in turn, also John - and even Sherlock, in his own devious way! (which includes beating into a pulp whomever dares to hurt her…) - are much more open about their filial love for her. But it’s not a mere question of customs and manners.

The difference extends itself, at least in some respects, to the same NATURE of their relationship - and this, too, is linked to a change in society, but a change far less superficial and far more substantial. The relationship between Mrs. Hudson, Sherlock, and - to some extent - John is actually a FAMILY-LIKE relationship. It’s not just a comradeship, an understanding, a complicity, or even a friendship: it’s the love of a mother for her two acquired sons, as well as the love of two sons for their foster mother. It’s not something unusual in contemporary popular narratives. It’s almost like, as family loses more and more force and cohesiveness as a social institution, as it’s more and more easily disgregated (as well as reduced in its dimesion to small nucleuses of few people, as opposed to the extended families which were common enough till a couple of generations ago), people made more and more efforts to try and build their own small, peculiar families, founded not upon blood relations, but instead upon affinities and choice - and yet shaped as, in previous times, families used to be shaped. And fiction recounts this phenomenon.

As a good example amongst popular TV shows, just consider the difference between the original series of Star Trek and The Next Generation, with regard to the relationships amongst crew members. In ST OS Kirk, Bones and Spock are clearly linked by a very strong bond of friendship, but almost nothing in their interactions reminds of a family: they are comrades, they cover each other’s back, they are loyal till death to each other, they truly love each other as only true friends do, but they don’t act as foster parents or foster siblings to each other. In TNG - which aired 20 years later - Picard, Riker, Troi, Crusher, Data, LaForge (and several of the minor characters) form one big family, in which each of them acts as parent or child or sibling - sometimes elder, sometimes younger - to the others, quite often shifting from a role to another according to what is required by the situation and by the person they interact with (for instance, Picard is usually a paternal figure, but on occasion he needs to find a maternal figure, or an elder sibling, in one or the other of the memebers of the crew, be it Deanna, or Guinan, or Crusher).

Of course they are ALSO friends and comrades; but the dominating tone of their interaction is a FAMILY-like tone. This is even openly aknowledged by Troi and Riker in one of the last episodes (the one in which Riker refuses an advancement, I can’t rememeber the title, right now). This difference between the two series is emblematic of a deeper change in society which happened between the Sixties and the Eighties, a change which has then become even more evident in recent years, and thus in recent popular narratives. Just think about TV shows like Fringe or popular books like Harry Potter: the protagonist or protagonists make every effort, through the story, not so much to build for themeselves a new, independent, individualistic identity, as in the traditional Bildungsroman, but instead to put together and cement a little, peculiar family they, for whatever reason (because they are orphans, because they come from abusive or disfunctional families, because they are outsiders…), lack at the beginning of the story. And BBC Sherlock could not escape the spirits of the times. Hence the larger role Mycroft plays in this series.

Hence the fact that we are told about John’s sister and his “complicate relationship” with her since the very beginning of the first episode. Hence Lestrade’s paternal attitude towards Sherlock. Hence John’s and Sherlock’s more brotherly attitude towards each other. Hence, of course, Sherlock’s and John’s protectiveness and filial affection towards Mrs. Hudson, as well as Mrs. Hudson’s more maternal attitude towards them. Hence the slow process of family-building which occurs through the whole Series 1 and 2 and which culminates with Sherlock “sacrificing” himself to save his “three only friends in the worls” - which actually are his own newly built little family (of which, of course, also Molly - and, I believe, Mycroft - is part). …Here, I’ve rambled far too much! [ Next episode : “A bunch of Violets”] Cheers! The Murder of Mary Russell | Boston Public Library | BiblioCommons The Murder of Mary Russell A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Print "Mary Russell is used to dark secrets--her own, and those of her famous partner and husband, Sherlock Holmes.

Trust is a thing slowly given, but over the course of a decade together, the two have forged an indissoluble bond. And what of the other person to whom Mary Russell has opened her heart: the couple's longtime housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson? Russell's faith and affection are suddenly shattered when a man arrives on the doorstep claiming to be Mrs. Hudson's son. What Samuel Hudson tells Russell cannot possibly be true, yet she believes him--as surely as she believes the threat of the gun in his hand."-- Publisher: New York : Bantam Books, [2016] Edition: First edition Branch Call Number: King, L KING L d DorisWaggoner Jan 11, 2017 I agree that the title's misleading. I hoped from the beginning that it would be. And I missed the byplay between Holmes and Russell. Nonetheless, I loved having Mrs. Hudson move from the background to the foreground. And I loved seeing the criminals shift to the foreground too. I did have to go back and reread some sections, as this one's much more complex than some others in the series. All that said, the trick works, fortunately.

Will we learn more of Clarissa in Monte Carlo? That would be nice. And what will Holmes and Russell do for a housekeeper? A most satisfying read. Like s s390325 Dec 25, 2016 Another fantastic Mary Russell story. I am kind of sad that now I have to wait for the author to write another book before I can read another story (I started reading this series a few months ago). I have to admit that due to the story skipping back and forth in time, it wasn't until I re-read it that I felt like I understood some of the more subtle plot details. I also like the fact that the author puts in details from an actual Conan Doyle story in her story, then expands upon it. (**Spoiler alert**) I felt like this book should have been called "The Murder of Mrs. Hudson", if only for the fact that it would not have frightened me with the thought of Mary Russell and the series dying. I also felt that this was less of a "what happened here?" mystery as it was learning quite a bit about Mrs. Hudson's past.

I think it is a bit of a stretch and perhaps not true to Sherlock Holmes's character that (even at a young and impetuous age) he would provide a personal, profitable parole for a young woman on the wrong side of the law and in a bad place, especially when that meant that she would be his landlady and have plenty of opportunities to poison him or find some other convenient accident to kill him. The fact that he professes that there will never be any romantic connection between them makes it even more unbelievable. Perhaps if she had been a very active member of the Irregulars, it would be more understandable, but that is not possible given her near constant presence in the Conan Doyle stories. I think it is just a convenient way to tie in her backstory. Really, even if you were a great actor, would you want to play the role of a housekeeper for 40 + years? Towards the end of the book I think we get a better view of Mrs. Hudson's intelligence and also a brief moment where she is still questioning how to view Sherlock Holmes, jailer or savior? (I realize that is not quite how she puts it). My main complaint is, I don't want Clarissa, I want Mrs.

Hudson back, with the traditional, comforting ways, always looking out for Mary and Holmes. I realize she might be nothing more than a stereotype until this book, but I have a hard time picturing Holmes without Mrs. Hudson in the background. Also, Holmes and Mary care about her and how are they going to get in touch with her when she's living the high life in Monaco? Like l laphampeak Aug 06, 2016 This is the first book I've read in King's series. It has enough mystery, enough history - but Just enough. If you've seen the latest Sherlock PBS series and read other Sherlock Holmes writings this is just a small addition of variety. This book, however, does not stand alone as a significant contribution. Like ChaChaRobin Jul 27, 2016 Enjoyable, quick read. This is a fun series. I found this book to be short on action, not as interesting as some of the earlier ones in the series, but still very much worth reading. Like AL_CINDYP Jul 27, 2016 Making Mrs. Hudson the focus of this really brings new perspectives to all the characters. The way that Mrs.

Hudson's past is weaved into the present day mystery kept me hooked. Like 2 21221018293347 Jul 25, 2016 Even though this book is more about Mrs. Hudson than the murder of Mary Russell, it was a good book. Not the best of the series, (but there have been a few that I have not enjoyed at all) but well worth the read. I really enjoyed hearing about Mrs. Hudson's background. Like j jeffreyochsner Jun 18, 2016 This whole series is terrific! And who would have guessed that Mrs. Hudson had such a fascinating back story? I agree with the other comments below that the title is dumb, but I enjoyed this book. The plot kept my interest, and the connection between past and present is eventually made. This is not the best book in the series, but it is a worthy entry. Like any series, it must be read in order for maximum enjoyment. Like l LauraSteinert Jun 17, 2016 Stupid title. Stupid Library Journal review. The book is the history of Mrs. Hudson and is fascinating.

The first half the book is often annoyingly interrupted with a fake-y "worry" that Mary Russell was injured or killed, and I couldn't have cared less as she clearly wasn't. That is not a spoiler as you will see when you read the mess the police made of the crime scene. None of this takes place at 221B Baker Street, again clearly, since Mary Russell was not even born when Holmes left that address. Ignore the reviews and title and just lose yourself in the discovery that you have long ignored one of the most interesting of all the Conan Doyle characters! Like s SQLWitch Apr 28, 2016 I doubt there's anybody who loves this series more than I do, but this one, although well-executed like all of King's work, was disappointing for two main reasons. First, the primary delight of the series is spending time with Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes, and this book had almost none of that. The alternative offered - Mrs. Hudson's backstory - just didn't have enough emotional punch to make up for that. It was bleak and dismal, and the character of Clara/Clarissa never really came alive for me.

Second, the morally questionable ending was both unconvincing and unsatisfying, largely because of Clara/Clarissa's internal inconsistency. If King was going for fascinating ambiguity, then it was an uncharacteristic miss for her. Like e emerge Feb 11, 2016 Let me get a couple of things out of the way. First, I'm a huge fan of this series. Second, this is a well written book. So why the 3 stars? The title is misleading. It starts with a bang when Mary opens her door to a stranger. But this book is really about Mrs. Hudson. We get the 411 on her parents, her childhood & how she met Holmes. Interspersed are short chapters on Mary's present day encounter with a man from Mrs. H's past. But Mary & Holmes are minor characters & Holmes doesn't appear until the halfway mark. Some people may enjoy it but I read these books because I love following our intrepid couple on their adventures. For me, everything revolves around the fascinating relationship between Mary & Sherlock & I missed their interaction & the usual witty dialogue.

So the book really started at the 70% mark (IMHO), going from a tough slog to page turner at that point. As stated, it's well written so if you've ever wondered how Holmes got his housekeeper, give it a try. Just know going in it's a big departure from previous books in the series. Like The Diary of 1886- By Mrs Hudson Chapter 3: January 3rd, a sherlock holmes fanfic | FanFiction By: an ounce of shag tobacco It appears that in the year of our Lord 1886, Mrs Hudson, owner of 221b Baker Street, keeps a diary of all the goings on in the lives of not only herself, but of her lodgers, the esteemed Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr Watson. For only now is the life of a long suffering housekeeper revealed! Expect mystery, murder and most definitely a pot of tea! Rated: Fiction T - English - Friendship/Mystery - Dr. Watson, Mrs.

Hudson, Sherlock Holmes - Chapters: 5 - Words: 2,791 - Reviews: 3 - Follows: 1 - Updated: 10/1/2013 - Published: 8/17/2013 - id: 9604839 + - Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten < Prev Next > 3rd January Good morning! I have taken breakfast up for Mr Holmes and Dr Watson early today as I wish to do some shopping. Mr Wyette posted a note through the door yesterday to let me know of the new range of Pear's soap he has stocked. It must sound positively tedious to you, but the subject fascinates me tremendously! I am a woman with not much to my name; however I can tell you what brand of soap one of Mr Holmes' clients has been using by just the smell. Mr Holmes does not expect a woman to have her own skills other than sewing and cooking and when an opportunity arises I shall prove him wrong. I should like to think that he will be impressed by it. Anyway, I ought to go up and collect the plates and wash them before I set off. Well, well!

What a day I have had! This year has certainly started off very well. I visited Mr Wyette's shop early as I had mentioned and he showed me such a variety of different items, I found it hard to stay within the one pound and 5 shillings budget. However, I have returned with 10 shillings still jangling in my purse. You see, I brought four bars of soap at three pennies, all of the week's groceries for five shillings and another ball of yarn with a new pair of needles. I used to knit when I was younger, but I gave it up when I married Wilfred. Oh how I miss him. It won't be long until it will have been fifteen years since I lost him. We used to live by the sea at the time and Wilfred would go out in his boat with Mr Allen, the gentleman who used to live next door to us. Anyhow, the day they went out started out bright and cheery, the sun was out and the waves were calm. However, they took such a terrible turn. I remember Lily, Mrs Allen, coming over to me and we waited in fear for our husbands to return safely.

Unfortunately, as you probably can tell, they did not. Well, after Wilfred's funeral I could not stay where I was, so I moved to London. I used the majority of my money to secure 221b Baker Street for myself and live independently. Margret, my sister, offered me a place at her home in Devon but I declined. I should not have sprung such a depressing subject upon you… Oh what does it matter? You are only ink and paper. I better start that stew. < Prev Next > The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted. Favorite : Story Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse | Martin Davies | 9781910859926 | NetGalley Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse Canelo | Mystery & Thrillers, Women's Fiction Mrs Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse by Martin Davies Pub Date 13 Jul 2015 This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived. This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.

Pub Date 13 Jul 2015 Description From acclaimed Richard & Judy Book Club author Martin Davies comes a rollicking new take on Sherlock Holmes: Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse, the first Holmes & Hudson Mystery What if Baker Street’s most gifted resident wasn’t called Sherlock Holmes? An evil stalks London, blown in from the tropics. Stories of cursed giant rats and malign spirits haunt the garrets of Limehouse. A group of merchants are, one by one, dying: murdered, somehow. The elementary choice to investigate these mysterious deaths is, of course, Holmes and Dr Watson. Yet instead of deduction, it will be the unique gifts of their housekeeper, Mrs Hudson and her orphaned assistant Flotsam that will be needed to solve the case. Can she do it all under the nose of Sherlock himself? From the coal fire at Baker Street to the smog of Whitechapel and the jungles of Sumatra, from snake bites in grand hotels to midnight carriage chases at the docks, it's time for Mrs Hudson to step out of the shadows. Playfully breaking with convention, Martin Davies brings a fresh twist to classic Victorian mystery.

From acclaimed Richard & Judy Book Club author Martin Davies comes a rollicking new take on Sherlock Holmes: Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse, the first Holmes & Hudson Mystery What if Baker... Close Description From acclaimed Richard & Judy Book Club author Martin Davies comes a rollicking new take on Sherlock Holmes: Mrs Hudson & the Spirits’ Curse, the first Holmes & Hudson Mystery What if Baker Street’s most gifted resident wasn’t called Sherlock Holmes? An evil stalks London, blown in from the tropics. Stories of cursed giant rats and malign spirits haunt the garrets of Limehouse. A group of merchants are, one by one, dying: murdered, somehow. The elementary choice to investigate these mysterious deaths is, of course, Holmes and Dr Watson. Yet instead of deduction, it will be the unique gifts of their housekeeper, Mrs Hudson and her orphaned assistant Flotsam that will be needed to solve the case. Can she do it all under the nose of Sherlock himself? From the coal fire at Baker Street to the smog of Whitechapel and the jungles of Sumatra, from snake bites in grand hotels to midnight carriage chases at the docks, it's time for Mrs Hudson to step out of the shadows.

Playfully breaking with convention, Martin Davies brings a fresh twist to classic Victorian mystery. Available Editions Recommends This Book Yes Well, I found another novel riffing on the Sherlock Holmes theme, and, of course, I couldn’t resist asking for a review copy. This has been a good year for Holmes with a number of new Holmes books out: there’s a new Russell/Holmes from Laurie King; the start of a new Holmes/Watson series from Vasudev Murthy and Poisoned Pen Press; The Fifth Heart, pairing Holmes and Henry James; Holmes’ creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, was paired with Oscar Wilde in a new Paranormal Casebooks volume; and Zach Dundas has written a book exploring the history of and variations on the Holmes stories. If we stretch back into late 2014, we also had Anthony Horowitz’ Moriarty and a collection of Holmes stories edited by Leslie S. Klinger and Laurie R. King. And another major collection of Holmes related stories is due out in late October. That’s a lot of Holmes, but as this publishing boomlet suggests, there’s always room for one more Sherlock. In Mrs.

Hudson and the Spirits’ Curse, Martin Davies brings us a Holmes and Watson very much in the Conan Doyle style and pairs them with their housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, (who turns out to have quite a keen mind), and Flotsam—Flottie for short—a young orphan fleeing attempts to force her into prostitution. The chief pleasure here is that while Holmes remains the intelligent man we’ve known him as, Davies plays on Holmes’ biases, using the Mrs. Hudson character to offer alternate interpretations for many clues Holmes uncovers. This Mrs. Hudson has a long history of solving crimes and an unusually broad group of acquaintances from all social strata to whom she turns for information and assistance. At first, Holmes condescends to Mrs. Hudson, but it doesn’t take him long to realize he’s met a mind as sharp as (if also rather different from ) his own. Flottie gets her due as well. The least-respected character here is Watson. He’s companionable, but easily befuddled and uncertain at times in his actions. The case focused on in Mrs. Hudson is a supposed curse placed on a trio of Englishmen returning to their native country after an unsuccessful attempt to build a fortune in Sumatra.

It quickly becomes uncertain whether the men are more threatened by the curse or by one another. If you’re looking to satisfy a craving for Holmesian reading, Mrs. Hudson will serve you well. The language is reminiscent of Conan Doyle’s, the story is carefully built—and it’s a true pleasure to see a pair of intelligent, self-reliant women alongside Holmes and Watson. Recommends This Book Recommends This Book Yes I was intrigued when I read the brief details of this book and really wanted to know what the author made of Mrs Hudson, Sherlock Holmes’ housekeeper. Conan Doyle portrays her as a fairly strong-willed woman but one who he keeps in the background and he gives us scant information about her back-story. Here we see her as a much more complete character who, with her young side-kick Flotsam (the narrator, who is obviously going places), can certainly teach Sherlock a trick or two. The plot has everything the classic Victorian detective story needs! There is a “locked room” mystery, a major Oriental theme, an evil mastermind pitted against the detective(s), and some slow-witted policemen, amongst other devices.

This book will appeal to the more light-hearted fans of Sherlock Holmes and to anyone who likes a fast-paced, quirky take on the detective story. I hope that it is one in a series of "Mrs Hudson" mysteries. Recommends This Book Recommends This Book Yes Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse is an enchanting, imaginative approach to the lore of Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories, the stalwart Mrs Hudson is always present, but little is known of her as an individual. Martin Davies turns tradition on its ear, placing her at the center of the story. Martin Davies asks - What if Sherlock Holmes wasn't the only genius residing at 221B Baker Street? What if the ever-capable Mrs Hudson assisted the famous detective? With her vast knowledge of what goes on below stairs, her skills of observation honed by years of running households, and her connections within the community, she proves a formidable ally to the great detective. Always present but easily overlooked, the pragmatic Mrs Hudson avoids the limelight while guiding Sherlock and Watson to the correct conclusion. Mrs Hudson and the Spirits' Curse takes place soon after she and her trusty assistant Flotsam take over the care of Holmes and Watson at their new Baker's Street abode.

Almost immediately a mysterious message is delivered requesting an audience with Holmes. The man claims to need assistance with a curse that has killed his colleagues and followed him from Sumatra. Only Mrs Hudson is suspicious of the tale, and with the help of Flotsam uncovers the details necessary to guide Holmes to the truth. Mrs Hudson and The Spirits' Curse is a must read for anyone who enjoys mysteries inspired by Conan Doyle's classic tales and doesn't mind a bit of lighthearted ribbing. This charming novel is a fun tribute to the master detective. 4/5 I received a copy of Mrs Hudson and The Spirits' Curse from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. --Crittermom Recommends This Book Recommends This Book Strongly I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson so when I heard about this book I was very excited . Sherlock Holmes is setting up home in Bakers Street in London and needing someone to take care of the day to day running of his household so he employs the very able Mrs Hudson.

Mrs Hudson brings her own help in the form of a young girl called Florrie who has had some recent trouble by the hands of a member of a household she previously worked for , she is helped by a street urchin called Scraggs who often helps Mrs Hudson with little jobs. Mrs Hudson is not just an excellent woman at managing a household , she also has a keen eye on what is happening around her and misses little! The majority of the story takes part in a thickly fogged London but there are more exotic countries weaved into the basis of the story as someone has recently come back from far away shores with a curse on his head that seems to follow him wherever he goes , his aim is to get Holmes's help before it is too late or it could prove fatal. I loved this story ! The entire household is filled with interesting characters , each one valuable in their own way to solving mysteries and crimes in a city filled with all forms of criminals. This is a must read for all Sherlock Holmes fans ! Recommends This Book Recommends This Book Strongly Martin Davis delivers a fresh look to the Sherlock Holmes stories, empowering a very unlikely character in Victorian London, where the likes of Mrs.

Hudson would be kept from all manly affaires and that the opinion of the persons below the stairs would not conform to any importance in the matter of the high class people they serve. This book dignifies the power of knowledge and deduction that women of any era could master greatly. Mrs. Hudson and the Spirit’s Curse is delighting, intriguing and full of twist and turns that makes it impossible to put down. This story is seen through the eyes of a young battered orphan that will transform in the charge of Mrs. Hudson into a very acute thinker. And reminds you that behind a great man there is a greater woman. Recommends This Book Recommends This Book Strongly Ever since seeing the show Sherlock on BBC, I've been enamored with Sherlock Holmes. So when I came across this book, I knew for sure that I wanted to give it a try. It is a Sherlock Holmes mystery, but told by Mrs. Hudson's helper Flotsom. What a brilliant idea on the writer for deciding to write it from that point of view. I really enjoyed it. And in my opinion, it was just as good as any Sherlock Holmes mystery I've read thus far.

Reading it from the servant's point of view gave it the feel you get when you watch Downtown Abbey and get to see how the servants downstairs live. You still have all of the twists and turns of Sherlock Holmes in this book. And twists and turns there are for sure. When the murderer was revealed I was shocked indeed. Which to me, makes for a wonderful mystery! I highly recommend this book if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan. I promise you won't be disappointed. Recommends This Book The Murder of Mary Russell | Bellingham Public Library | BiblioCommons The Murder of Mary Russell A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes Print "Laurie R. King's bestselling Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes series weaves rich historical detail and provocative themes with intriguing characters and enthralling suspense. Russell and Holmes have become one of modern literature's most beloved teams. But does this adventure end it all? Mary Russell is used to dark secrets--her own, and those of her famous partner and husband, Sherlock Holmes. Trust is a thing slowly given, but over the course of a decade together, the two have forged an indissoluble bond.

And what of the other person to whom Mary Russell has opened her heart: the couple's longtime housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson? Russell's faith and affection are suddenly shattered when a man arrives on the doorstep claiming to be Mrs. Hudson's son. What Samuel Hudson tells Russell cannot possibly be true, yet she believes him--as surely as she believes the threat of the gun in his hand. In a devastating instant, everything changes. And when the scene is discovered--a pool of blood on the floor, the smell of gunpowder in the air--the most shocking revelation of all is that the grim clues point directly to Clara Hudson. Or rather to Clarissa, the woman she was before Baker Street. The key to Russell's sacrifice lies in Mrs. Hudson's past. To uncover the truth, a frantic Sherlock Holmes must put aside his anguish and push deep into his housekeeper's secrets--to a time before her disguise was assumed, before her crimes were buried away. There is death here, and murder, and trust betrayed. And nothing will ever be the same. Praise for the award-winning novels of Laurie R.

King "The great marvel of King's series is that she's managed to preserve the integrity of Holmes's character and yet somehow conjure up a woman astute, edgy, and compelling enough to be the partner of his mind as well as his heart."--The Washington Post Book World "The most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today."--Lee Child "A lively adventure in the very best of intellectual company."--The New York Times "Erudite, fascinating. by all odds the most successful re-creation of the famous inhabitant of 221B Baker Street ever attempted."--Houston Chronicle "Intricate clockworks, wheels within wheels."--Booklist (starred review) "Imaginative and subtle."--The Seattle Times "Impossible to put down."--Romantic Times "Remarkably beguiling."--The Boston Globe"-- "Has Laurie King followed in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's footsteps and killed off her protagonist? Sherlock Holmes is back in the latest in the New York Times bestselling series that Lee Child has hailed as "the most sustained feat of imagination in mystery fiction today"--But is Mary Russell?

When the novel opens, the shabby carpet of 221B Baker Street is drenched in blood--and no one knows the fate of Mary Russell. Could this be the final performance for the world's best-known Holmesian author?"-- Publisher: New York : Bantam Books, 2016 Edition: First edition d DorisWaggoner Jan 11, 2017 I agree that the title's misleading. I hoped from the beginning that it would be. And I missed the byplay between Holmes and Russell. Nonetheless, I loved having Mrs. Hudson move from the background to the foreground. And I loved seeing the criminals shift to the foreground too. I did have to go back and reread some sections, as this one's much more complex than some others in the series. All that said, the trick works, fortunately. Will we learn more of Clarissa in Monte Carlo? That would be nice. And what will Holmes and Russell do for a housekeeper? A most satisfying read. Like s s390325 Dec 25, 2016 Another fantastic Mary Russell story.

I am kind of sad that now I have to wait for the author to write another book before I can read another story (I started reading this series a few months ago). I have to admit that due to the story skipping back and forth in time, it wasn't until I re-read it that I felt like I understood some of the more subtle plot details. I also like the fact that the author puts in details from an actual Conan Doyle story in her story, then expands upon it. (**Spoiler alert**) I felt like this book should have been called "The Murder of Mrs. Hudson", if only for the fact that it would not have frightened me with the thought of Mary Russell and the series dying. I also felt that this was less of a "what happened here?" mystery as it was learning quite a bit about Mrs. Hudson's past.

I think it is a bit of a stretch and perhaps not true to Sherlock Holmes's character that (even at a young and impetuous age) he would provide a personal, profitable parole for a young woman on the wrong side of the law and in a bad place, especially when that meant that she would be his landlady and have plenty of opportunities to poison him or find some other convenient accident to kill him. The fact that he professes that there will never be any romantic connection between them makes it even more unbelievable. Perhaps if she had been a very active member of the Irregulars, it would be more understandable, but that is not possible given her near constant presence in the Conan Doyle stories. I think it is just a convenient way to tie in her backstory. Really, even if you were a great actor, would you want to play the role of a housekeeper for 40 + years? Towards the end of the book I think we get a better view of Mrs. Hudson's intelligence and also a brief moment where she is still questioning how to view Sherlock Holmes, jailer or savior? (I realize that is not quite how she puts it). My main complaint is, I don't want Clarissa, I want Mrs.

Hudson back, with the traditional, comforting ways, always looking out for Mary and Holmes. I realize she might be nothing more than a stereotype until this book, but I have a hard time picturing Holmes without Mrs. Hudson in the background. Also, Holmes and Mary care about her and how are they going to get in touch with her when she's living the high life in Monaco? Like l laphampeak Aug 06, 2016 This is the first book I've read in King's series. It has enough mystery, enough history - but Just enough. If you've seen the latest Sherlock PBS series and read other Sherlock Holmes writings this is just a small addition of variety. This book, however, does not stand alone as a significant contribution. Like ChaChaRobin Jul 27, 2016 Enjoyable, quick read. This is a fun series. I found this book to be short on action, not as interesting as some of the earlier ones in the series, but still very much worth reading. Like AL_CINDYP Jul 27, 2016 Making Mrs. Hudson the focus of this really brings new perspectives to all the characters. The way that Mrs.

Hudson's past is weaved into the present day mystery kept me hooked. Like 2 21221018293347 Jul 25, 2016 Even though this book is more about Mrs. Hudson than the murder of Mary Russell, it was a good book. Not the best of the series, (but there have been a few that I have not enjoyed at all) but well worth the read. I really enjoyed hearing about Mrs. Hudson's background. Like j jeffreyochsner Jun 18, 2016 This whole series is terrific! And who would have guessed that Mrs. Hudson had such a fascinating back story? I agree with the other comments below that the title is dumb, but I enjoyed this book. The plot kept my interest, and the connection between past and present is eventually made. This is not the best book in the series, but it is a worthy entry. Like any series, it must be read in order for maximum enjoyment. Like l LauraSteinert Jun 17, 2016 Stupid title. Stupid Library Journal review. The book is the history of Mrs. Hudson and is fascinating.

The first half the book is often annoyingly interrupted with a fake-y "worry" that Mary Russell was injured or killed, and I couldn't have cared less as she clearly wasn't. That is not a spoiler as you will see when you read the mess the police made of the crime scene. None of this takes place at 221B Baker Street, again clearly, since Mary Russell was not even born when Holmes left that address. Ignore the reviews and title and just lose yourself in the discovery that you have long ignored one of the most interesting of all the Conan Doyle characters! Like s SQLWitch Apr 28, 2016 I doubt there's anybody who loves this series more than I do, but this one, although well-executed like all of King's work, was disappointing for two main reasons. First, the primary delight of the series is spending time with Mary Russel and Sherlock Holmes, and this book had almost none of that. The alternative offered - Mrs. Hudson's backstory - just didn't have enough emotional punch to make up for that. It was bleak and dismal, and the character of Clara/Clarissa never really came alive for me.

Second, the morally questionable ending was both unconvincing and unsatisfying, largely because of Clara/Clarissa's internal inconsistency. If King was going for fascinating ambiguity, then it was an uncharacteristic miss for her. Like e emerge Feb 11, 2016 Let me get a couple of things out of the way. First, I'm a huge fan of this series. Second, this is a well written book. So why the 3 stars? The title is misleading. It starts with a bang when Mary opens her door to a stranger. But this book is really about Mrs. Hudson. We get the 411 on her parents, her childhood & how she met Holmes. Interspersed are short chapters on Mary's present day encounter with a man from Mrs. H's past. But Mary & Holmes are minor characters & Holmes doesn't appear until the halfway mark. Some people may enjoy it but I read these books because I love following our intrepid couple on their adventures. For me, everything revolves around the fascinating relationship between Mary & Sherlock & I missed their interaction & the usual witty dialogue.

So the book really started at the 70% mark (IMHO), going from a tough slog to page turner at that point. As stated, it's well written so if you've ever wondered how Holmes got his housekeeper, give it a try. Just know going in it's a big departure from previous books in the series. Like

Question: In fiction, at what address did housekeeper Mrs Hudson live?
Answer: 221B BAKER STREET